The upcoming Brave 2: Dynasty on December 2nd will feature four career defining fights for four Arab fighters. Four warriors, hailing from four different Arab countries, who have what it takes to fight at the highest level in Mixed Martial Arts.
Brave Combat Federation will be sure to put them to the test, and H.H Shaikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, alongside President of BRAVE Mohammed Shahid have made their vision perfectly clear. They plan to probe the cream of the middle-eastern crop against the world’s best fighters, and eventually, catapult Arab fighters into the world’s consciousness.
Their last show certainly proved that they mean what they say, as they made fights like Ahmed “The Butcher” Amir against Brazilian JiuJitsu Black Belt Richie Martinez. This fight was make or break for Amir. Yet, shone on the big stage, against a world-renowned opponent, winning convincingly in the first round via TKO. Now Amir’s name is known throughout the MMA world and he can expect to reap the rewards of that great win, and be fed world class competition to pit his skills against.
On this December card, there are four major players in Arab MMA who could achieve this kind of global recognition with big wins at the Khalifa Sports City, Bahrain.
Jarrah Al Silawi, who will make his promotional debut for Brave having departed from Desert Force was a strong addition. “The Jordanian Lion” has gone from strength to strength in his career during his time at Desert Force and following the end of his contract decided to make the giant leap to Brave, where he is expected to face a very high caliber international opponent in Erik Carlsson. He famously submitted Mohammad Fakhreddine, which no one else has ever done, by Kimura. Al Selawi has a slick submission game, coupled with improved stand-up. He’s on a winning streak, he’s marketable, macho, and never seems to be in a dull fight. Therefore, Jarrah maybe just a few wins away from challenging for a title. His fight in the upcoming Brave may truly be the turning point as to whether he can make the transition from local to international recognition.
Another man who is extremely marketable for similar reasons is Ottman Azaitar (7-0), the Moroccan destroyer. He’s on a streak of his own, five first round finishes in a row and of course, he’s yet to taste defeat as a professional – only victory. He has fairly untested ground skills since his hands get the job done every time, brutally so. When he lands, his opponents fall, plain and simple. He’ll be handed his biggest test at Brave 2. Let’s see how he rises to the challenge, with the football legend Diego Maradona by his side.
At Brave 1, Bahraini fighter Hamza Kooheji, a protégé of Mohammed Shahid, did exactly that – he rose to the occasion in front of all his home support. With the weight of expectation he took it on his shoulders, and rolled with it, producing his finest display in a dominant win via submission in the second round. He’s less experienced than the afore-mentioned rising stars but he has every chance of being a world class fighter, and the first to emerge from Bahrain. He will fight on the Brave 2 card against undefeated Filipino Jeremy Pacatiw. If he continues to rack up the wins, this 23-year-old may be the next star to rise out of the middle-east.
Finally, the man with perhaps the most star potential is the Algerian Elias Boudegzdame (12-4), a man with an infectious smile and the skills to go with it. His fight has been announced and it is a daunting prospect, the elite Walel “The Gazelle” Watson (13-8). A man who has shared a cage with some of the meanest fighters on the planet and arrives at Brave with a wealth of experience at the pinnacle of the sport. Conversely, if Elias, who possesses outstanding submission skills, can achieve this famous victory, we can expect to see him fighting in main events, and for titles in the very near future.
Stay tuned to ArabsMMA.com for all on Brave 2.
